Pharmacists’ remuneration for COVID-19 vaccinations must be addressed

Friday 10^th December 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling on Federal Government to equally remunerate pharmacists for their involvement in the national vaccination strategy.

 

As present, pharmacists are receiving $16 per booster vaccine administered, whilst other providers such as general practitioners can receive up to $63.55 – an unfair disparity for providing the same service.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, stressed that the current remuneration model for COVID-19 vaccinations simply isn’t sustainable.

 

“On Monday, paediatric vaccinations were approved by the TGA, opening up vaccination eligibility to 2.3 million Australian children. This means that extra consultation time will be required to undertake appropriate assessment and consenting, placing further strain on service sustainability.

 

“As mass vaccination hubs continue to downscale operations over the coming months and we revert to pre-pandemic primary health arrangements, responsibility will fall back on immunisation providers to cover both the 5-11s cohort as well as those eligible for their booster dose.

 

“Frustration is mounting within the profession. Our pharmacists have had enough and can no longer justify running this service at a loss.

 

“If the disparity isn’t addressed soon, I am worried we’ll see pharmacies withdrawing their involvement in the national strategy, causing further setbacks in 2022.

 

“If pharmacists are forced to withdraw from the program, pressure will fall on already-overworked GPs and other primary care providers to deliver – causing patients to delay their vaccination.

 

“As a nation that is on the verge of more widely opening up to domestic and international travel, we simply cannot afford to drop the ball on this.

 

“We need to support our frontline pharmacists so they can continue to support the Australian community,” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

Background

 

The following table shows a breakdown of the pay rates for different providers:

 

Description	Pharmacists		General Practitioners
	*MM1 Fee	*MM2-7 Fee	*MM1 Fee	*MM2-7 Fee
First Dose Administration	$16	$19	$31.05	$37.70
Second Dose Administration (by same provider)	$26	$29	$34.45	$37.80
Additional Dose (including third dose for immunocompromised and boosters)	$16	$19	$24.45	$27.80
COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment (billable once only)	Nil	Nil	$39.10	$39.10

 

Pharmacists receive a flat $16 for administering a booster vaccine, whilst GPs may be able to claim additional dose administration ($24.45), and a suitability assessment ($39.10) for a total of $63.55. This is higher for GP’s in rural areas and after hours.

 

No after-hours payments are available for pharmacists despite many providing access outside of normal business hours.

 

If all three doses and a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment are provided by the same practitioner, in a major city, a pharmacist would receive $58, whilst a GP would receive $129.05.

 

*MMM = Modified Monash Model defines whether a location is a city, rural, remote or very remote. It measures remoteness and population size on a scale of Modified Monash (MM) category MM 1 to MM 7. MM 1 is a major city and MM 7 is very remote.*

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Outstanding ACT pharmacists recognised!

Friday 10^th December 2021

 

Last night at the ACT Pharmacy Awards ceremony, held at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) head office in Canberra, outstanding achievement across the Territory was recognised.

 

PSA’s ACT Branch President, Renae Beardmore, presented awards for Intern Pharmacist of the Year, Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

“Since the pandemic began, Canberra had been relatively sheltered from the full brunt of this deadly disease, causing comparatively minimal disruption to our daily lives. Then, as expected, the Delta variant found its way to the Territory.

 

“In the face of adversity caused by changes to primary care delivery, ACT pharmacists rose to the challenge brilliantly – going above and beyond for their patients and the wider community.

 

“The awards recognise outstanding achievers for their contribution throughout 2021, highlighting the incredible talent that we have across the pharmacy profession.

 

“Whether it be developing and empowering the staff around them, demonstrating working collaboratively within healthcare teams, providing support and education to the next generation of pharmacists or improving medicine safety holistically – this year’s winners have exemplified pharmacy practice.

 

“I congratulate them on their success and thank them for their commitment to our profession and the ACT at large,” Ms Beardmore said.

 

This year’s award winners are as follows:

• Samantha Forge: Intern Pharmacist of the Year
• Brooke Veasey: Early Career Pharmacist of the Year
• Chris Lawler: Pharmacist of the Year
• Dr Gabrielle Cooper OAM: Lifetime Achievement Award

 

 

PSA congratulates this year’s award winners and thanks them for their service to pharmacy in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

Award winner profiles below.

 

Samantha Forge: PSA ACT Intern Pharmacist of the Year

 

Samantha has accomplished a great deal despite undertaking her internship in the middle of a pandemic. We all witnessed the relentless pace of change seen in just a short period. She took on this challenge with determination and leadership, using the opportunity to train, develop and empower the staff around her.

 

She also took on a role in managing the pharmacy’s mental health clients from the local clinic, including supporting a fortnightly clozapine clinic. Under her leadership, a collaborative model of care thrived, fostered by a collegiate approach to care from the entire team of healthcare professionals involved. This led to improvements in the safe and appropriate use of medicines for some of the area’s most vulnerable patients.

 

With a keen interest in drug formulary inventory management, this was used to refine the team’s ordering protocol and improve the accessibility of medicines for her patients despite the ongoing challenges of serious medicine shortages.

 

Brooked Veasey: PSA ACT Early Career Pharmacist of the Year

 

Brooke stepped up to take on the responsibility for all intern pharmacists and pharmacy students across their pharmacy group, including 11 sites in both the ACT and NSW.

 

As part of this, this she single-handedly set up an internal intern training course of sorts to run in parallel and complimentary to the formal intern training program. This included organising internal lectures from specialist interest pharmacists and matching up the interns with various pharmacists for practice oral exams – where she prepared the all of the content. This process has fostered a great sense of connection between interns across the group, enabling them to learn from the wider group and not only rely solely on their individual preceptor.

 

Brooke has also joined forces with a colleague in one of the NSW pharmacies and together they have taken responsibility for driving professional pharmacy services. This includes supporting all pharmacists across the group with weekly teleconferences, providing the opportunity to share and troubleshoot common issues as they arose, and to celebrate wins. This has been a big job, particularly with the enormous task of scaling the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, yet, she has owned this task with poise and confidence.

 

Chris Lawler: PSA ACT Pharmacist of the Year

 

Chris is one of ACT pharmacy’s quiet achievers.

 

He provides care and support to some of the most vulnerable people in the community, including patients accessing opioid dependency treatment and those with HIV and Hepatitis C. He has developed important clinical and patient networks and is a trusted and respected proponent of the essential role that pharmacists play in the delivery of primary care.

 

Chris and his team provide daily support to over 100 patients on opioid dependency treatment. He has a calm, kind and approachable manner which allows them to cultivate rapport that supports continuity of care, leading to both better patient outcomes and reduced risk of abuse, misuse and diversion of opioids in the broader community. He has also been working with the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy and Directions ACT for many years, mitigating the risk of overdose by providing naloxone to patients.

 

He also provides a safe place supporting patients seeking treatment or prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C. He also works closely with the local general practice, and together with local prescribers has built an effective collaborative care model which ensures that support and treatments are provided to patients in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

 

Dr Gabrielle Cooper OAM: PSA ACT Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Cooper has demonstrated a relentless and career-long commitment to the pharmacy profession since she graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1983. After completing her internship, she commenced her career as a clinical pharmacist in Hobart, before spending almost a decade in clinical pharmacy at the Royal Canberra Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children in London and the University of Tasmania as a clinical educator.

 

Returning to Canberra in 1995, she was appointed as the Director of Pharmacy at John James Memorial Hospital. In the years to follow she was a Poisons Information Pharmacist at The Canberra Hospital and subsequently became the Director of Pharmacy at Calvary Hospital between 2002 and 2003.

 

It was during her years as a hospital pharmacist that she became well known as a motivating and inspirational teacher. She could demonstrate and instill a range of attributes including sound clinical knowledge, a passion for disease state management, problem solving, leadership, and effective communication skills.

 

Her interest in drug overdose led her to undertake a PhD in clinical toxicology. Her seminal work has been widely cited and led to changes in clinical practice such that activated charcoal in drug overdose is now used in more restricted situations.

 

Following a critical shortage of pharmacists in Canberra and the surrounding region, she transitioned from clinical practice to academia and in 2003 she established the Discipline of Pharmacy at the University of Canberra, where she remained the Head of Pharmacy and was promoted to Full Professor in 2010. She understood the value students obtain from clinical placement and was successful in securing funding to allow pharmacy students to undertake placements in what was then a novel environment – general practice.

 

In her ‘spare time’ she was also highly engaged with the profession at the local level with involvement in the PSA ACT Branch as its initial President in 2009 where she remained on the Branch Committee until 2016, serving as both ACT Branch President (twice), and as a National Board Director from 2011 to 2013.

 

Her contribution to the profession locally was also highlighted by her appointment to the ACT Pharmacy Board in 2006 until the formation of the National Pharmacy Board in 2010.

 

She was elected as Chair of the Capital Health Network in 2015, and during this time her highly regarded networking and communication skills led to the establishment of the Pharmacists in General Practice trial in the ACT.

 

And last but certainly not least, her remarkable contributions were recognised in 2017 when she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to the pharmacy sector and to tertiary education”.

 

Her elegant ability to articulate logically has made her a positive role model to students, pharmacists, healthcare workers, and policy makers alike.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Exceptional pharmacists in the toughest of times

Friday 10^th December 2021

 

Last night at the Victorian Pharmacy Awards ceremony, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) Victoria Branch recognised the state’s outstanding achievers for 2021.

 

PSA Victoria Branch President, John Jackson, presented awards for Victoria’s Intern Pharmacist of the Year, Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and the Victorian Pharmacist Medal.

 

“After two of the toughest years in living memory for Victorian pharmacists, the commitment of these winners to their patients and to the safe and effective use of medicines is extraordinary.

 

“These awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contribution to Victorian pharmacy through excellence in all forms of practice.

 

“Year-on-year I continue to be blown away by the efforts of pharmacists across the state and these deserving winners have exemplified the talent and versatility amongst the profession.

 

“Congratulations to Laura, Shefali, Paul, Bill and Jim on your success, and on behalf of the PSA I thank you for devotion to the pharmacy profession in Victoria,” Mr Jackson said.

 

This year’s award winners are as follows:

• Laura Carfrae (Maryborough): Intern Pharmacist of the Year
• Shefali Parekh (Melbourne): Early Career Pharmacist of the Year
• Paul Naismith (Melbourne): Pharmacist of the Year
• William (Bill) Horsfall (Melbourne): Lifetime Achievement Award
• James (Jim) Burns (Melbourne): Victorian Pharmacist Medal

 

Award winner profiles below:

 

Laura Carfrae: PSA Victorian Intern Pharmacist of the Year

 

Laura is a dedicated intern pharmacist keen to use her clinical skills in rural Victoria to increase the health literacy and access to quality use of medicines for the entire community. Her passion for accurate and intentional prescribing in the aged care setting and her ability to communicate this with the patients, nursing staff and prescribers is outstanding.

 

In her time as an intern at Priceline Pharmacy Maryborough, in the midst of the pandemic, Laura has managed to practice beyond her scope as an intern and assist the accredited and registered pharmacists in the following ways, always sighting that rural workforce issues put extra pressure on an already stretched team – and focused on upskilling to help the team.

 

In the aged care setting, Laura conducts chart reviews, collects information from nursing staff and clinical notes so that the accredited pharmacist may provide quality RMMRs. This includes drawing on her previous medical science degree to help interpret lab test data efficiently and provide associated QUM training on de-prescribing, antimicrobial stewardship and pain management.

 

Laura trained as an immuniser under the emergency health order to assist the Goldfields Shire to have above 90% second dose vaccination rates from 12 years and over in a short period of time.

 

Laura also produced the pharmacy’s Pfizer vaccine protocol to ensure reduce error risk across all three COVID-19 vaccines. Laura has been patient in explaining the benefits of vaccination to vaccine hesitant patients, being the lead ‘white coat’ for all the pharmacies quality accreditation requirements including helping to manage documentation for health services, provide orientation and training to new staff to prepare them for their S2/S3 certificates and developing and honing an electronic incident reporting log for errors and near misses and electronic home delivery recording which increased ten-fold throughout the pandemic.

 

Laura also manages the HMR booking system for accredited pharmacists, highlighting potential issues for the pharmacists to raise with GPs sooner rather than later if required. She shows a clinical astuteness and use of resources.

 

Laura has completed further education beyond her PSA ITP program including an asthma educator’s course, this has equipped her to have meaningful conversations with our largely poor health literate community about medicine compliance and the benefits of smoking cessation.

 

Laura is an advocate for rural pharmacy speaking at the RMIT Final Year Students Forum and securing a 2022 intern for the pharmacy due to her passion regarding the clinical work she is performing in a rural setting.

 

She was an active Victorian Early Career Pharmacist Working Group member, involved in organising a highly-attended online event during the lockdown.

 

Shefali Parekh: PSA Victorian Early Career Pharmacist of the Year

 

Shefali Parekh is a rising early career pharmacist who has been actively involved in the professional community since her student days. Primarily working in the hospital setting, she has taken an interest in education and helping to develop the next generation of pharmacists.

 

Shefali is committed to developing her own practice into more specialised areas, more autonomously. She completed the Nicotine Replacement Therapy credential at The Alfred Hospital, allowing her to assess nicotine dependence and to prescribe replacement therapy as appropriate. Here she also completed the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring credential, which enables her to check, interpret and order vancomycin and aminoglycoside levels to ensure their safe and appropriate use.

 

Shefali is also committed to helping develop the next generation. She has completed the Monash Clinical Educator training program and learnt about educational theory such as Kolbs Learning Styles and Gibb’s Reflective Cycle; communication skills for supervisors such as how to give effective feedback; and problem solving. She completed this course to prepare to adopt a more formal preceptor role in the future, to be involved in clinically supervising both students and interns. She also sits on the Continuing Education Committee at The Austin Hospital, helping to organise education to facilitate practitioner development within the Austin Pharmacy Department, which she has passed on topics of interest to the wider ECP community through the Communities of Specialty Interest forum.

 

Shefali works well within healthcare teams, currently within the Austin Haematology and Medical Oncology Health Service. This involves supporting the service through cytotoxic manufacturing for inpatients, ambulatory care, clinical trials and day oncology; inpatient ward-based clinical pharmacy services including taking a medication history on admission, providing discharge counselling and dispensing oral chemotherapy. She also assists with the Novel Day Oncology at Home Program commenced at the Austin in July 2021, which has opened up an opportunity for not only patients to receive life-saving chemotherapy in the comfort of their own homes, but also supports the innovation and expanding roles of pharmacists.

 

Paul Naismith: PSA Victorian Pharmacist of the Year

 

Paul is one of the real innovators of pharmacy and a pioneer of IT, making the software user friendly for community pharmacists. His work in fast tracking electronic prescriptions with almost 100% uptake by pharmacists in Australia during COVID- 19 times has improved access for people in isolation, and GPs working by telehealth. More importantly, electronic prescriptions will reduce medicine safety errors and increase security of patient’s medicines information during the pandemic.

 

Paul is one of the real innovators of pharmacy and a pioneer of IT, making the software user-friendly for community pharmacists. Paul is CEO of Fred IT group and chairman of PDL and APPCO. Paul received a distinguished alumni award from Monash University in 2020.

 

Paul co-founded Fred in 1991 to develop dispensing software (FRED- Fast Reliable Easy Dispensing) that was easy to use, before turning to pharmacy friendly point-of-sale (Quicksell) and a pharmacy specific Internet service (nuNet).

 

He worked with government on the roll out of real time claiming via PBS online. Other achievements include the launch of eRx Script Exchange in 2009 (Australia’s first national electronic prescriptions exchange for pharmacy and health) and MedView (an online cloud-based platform for managing medicines information).

 

In 2019, he assisted with the introduction of real-time prescription monitoring in Victoria to save lives and reduce the accidental misuse of prescription medications. In 2020, electronic scripts were launched to improve the medication supply function and improve medication safety. This was fast-tracked to cope with the change of demand with the lockdowns imposed by COVID-19. The efficiencies of the electronic paperless prescriptions have allowed a seamless process of prescribing, dispensing and supply by reducing the cumbersome method of faxing prescriptions which also still require a hard copy to be sent to the pharmacy. The e-script has seen an increase in pre-ordering of repeats using the technology which has helped pharmacy workflow.

 

The increased take-up has seen eRx Script Exchange achieve the milestone of 20 million electronic prescriptions since Australia’s national system of electronic prescriptions was launched in May 2020. More than 28,000 doctors prescribed 10.5 million of those, while 98% of the nation’s pharmacies produced 9.5 million repeats. Paul has demonstrated the value of engaging with the industry’s many stakeholders – the doctors, pharmacists, organisations that represent them plus industry, government, technology providers and importantly what patients want.

 

Paul has demonstrated the value of engaging with the industry’s many stakeholders – the doctors’, pharmacists’ organisations that represent them plus industry, government, technology providers and importantly what patients want. Paul stands out and has been frequently listed in the Top 14 Most Influential People in Pharmacy.

 

Until recently, he was a partner in two community pharmacies in Melbourne.

 

He is realistic in the change management required to embrace technology change. For many years Paul has been pushing for medication service coordination to reduce high patient risks especially in transition of care.

 

Paul provides an excellent role model of developing systems to use technology to make the life of the pharmacist easier and medicines safer for patients.

 

William (Bill) Horsfall: PSA VIC Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Bill Horsfall is one of the most well-known pharmacists in Victoria. For 23 years, Bill was the Director of CE for PSA Victoria producing the most comprehensive and well attended lectures, seminars, and courses in Australia. Bill continues to influence practice change working in GP education.

 

Bill started his pharmacy journey as a hospital pharmacist in Townsville, then Mackay, whilst also working as an Officer in the Army Reserves. Following a working holiday in the UK, he returned to Melbourne working in hospital pharmacy and then owning two community pharmacies. Following development of and education program for Chemmart Pharmacies, he became Director of Continuing Education for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Vic). He held this role for 23 years and developed the most comprehensive CE program in Australia. Events were usually conducted three times a week and a weekend every month in the 19 regional centres as well as Parkville. Lecture attendance at Parkville averaged 250 pharmacists at the monthly lecture with a record of 720 at one event.

 

One of Bill’s skills was involving other pharmacists. He sought out the key interest groups and worked with a group of over 20 pharmacists and academics who attended the monthly CE meeting and actively contributed to running the courses. Bill’s innovation ran to developing courses in private hospital pharmacy, counselling mental health patients, introduction to pharmacy computers and software programs, business management in conjunction with AIPM, negotiation skills, sports medicine, wound management, pharmacy industry representative training, re-entry courses, a 4-night new drugs course, therapeutic updates, as well as monthly training weekends around regional Victoria. During all this time, Bill continued to work sessionally in community pharmacy to maintain relevance.

 

Bill moved into GP education in 2003 and has worked for 18 years for NPS MedicineWise as an Educational Visitor presenting clinical discussion sessions individually or in groups using evidence-based information to assist with best practice. Due to his well-earned reputation, Bill has the highest call rate for Australia in this work.

 

Bill has continued to work with PSA education and has been the Education Administration Officer for the PSA Offshore Conference for the past 20 years. His networking with key opinion leaders has enabled much of his success in all aspects of his working life.

 

Bill Horsfall, PhC, FPS (at 85 years) is one of the oldest working pharmacists, and to his credit, has kept up with technology.

 

Bill is a role model for all in dedicating his life to the professionalism and recognition of pharmacists and helping all people. He has raised practice standards by example over a lifetime of dedicated practice.

 

Bill recently spoke to Australian Pharmacist reflecting on his career: https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/bill-horsfall-member-insight/

 

James (Jim) Burns: PSA Victorian Pharmacist Medal

Jim Burns has owned and operated his pharmacy in Croydon for over 60 years. Aged in his 90s, he continues to work 5.5 days a week in his pharmacy. He operates a methadone clinic and has supported 100s of people through that program over the years. The community has a lot of love for Jim.

 

Croydon artist, Andy Drewitt, honoured Jim in a local street art installation this year. Titled “The Chemist”, Mr Drewitt stated “He put himself out there, along the way he copped some slack from the community, and the community wasn’t always primed to help people that are often regarded as falling through the cracks.”

 

Mr Burns grew up in Croydon. After working overseas, he went into partnership with Don Grey in 1959 and has been working in Croydon ever since.

 

In the mid-1980s Jim started an opioid pharmacotherapy clinic (sometimes colloquially referred to as a methadone program). He explained that he was driven to do so after a long-time customer found out his son, who was drug dependent, had stolen thousands of dollars from him. Mr Burns said “Then I thought, alright these people get into trouble. It’s not necessarily other family members that get hostile, but the general public get hostile when they find that drug-dependent people do things that are anti-social, stealing money or stealing other things to sell to get a few dollars to stop their pain.” He feels that pharmacotherapy programs allow people to lead a normal life – get a job, have a family.

 

He advocated early on for treatment to be more comprehensive, incorporating counselling and access to community services.  Also he has always kept his pharmacotherapy program very affordable seeing it as a community benefit for it to be accessible.

 

Countless lives have been improved over the decades, with 40 patients in his pharmacy currently supported on pharmacotherapy.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Pharmacists ready with Moderna boosters but services must be sustainable

Thursday 9^th December 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the announcement that Moderna’s SPIKEVAX vaccine has been provisionally approved as a booster dose for Australians aged 18 years and above.

 

Yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) confirmed that a second vaccine will be available for the National Booster Program.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, acknowledged further enablement of the pharmacist workforce.

 

“With the National Booster Program well underway, this move is timely – one that provides Australians with greater vaccine choice in the lead up to early 2022 when the majority of the population becomes eligible for their booster dose.

 

“This announcement, coupled with Monday’s provisional approval of Pfizer for Australians aged 5-11 years, marks a week of significant progress in the pandemic response and PSA commends the Government’s approach to making these decisions.

 

“This development now means that the potential number of pharmacists offering booster vaccinations across Australia has more than doubled, accounting for those already participating in the Moderna program.

 

“However, it is imperative that pharmacists are paid fairly, and at least equally to other providers, otherwise the provision of this critical service is not sustainable. With 2.3 million children becoming eligible for vaccination, extra consultation time will be required to undertake appropriate assessment and consenting, placing further strain on service sustainability.

 

“Pharmacists have already administered over 2.5 million vaccinations to Australians, and as mass vaccination hubs continue to downscale their operations over the coming months, pharmacists will become an even more critical part of the vaccination strategy,” he said.

 

PSA is dedicated to supporting Australian pharmacist immunisers through the National Booster Program and will continue to work closely with the TGA and ATAGI to ensure pharmacists are equipped with the most up-to-date advice regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness.

 

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Training for community pharmacy to support people who are grieving

Wednesday 8^th December 2021

 

In partnership with COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network, The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has developed an online training module designed to equip community pharmacists and pharmacy assistants with skills to better support people who are grieving.

 

The content for Supporting People with their Grief and Bereavement was written by subject matter experts from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) and is now live.

 

PSA NSW Branch President, Chelsea Felkai, explained how this initiative supports pharmacists and pharmacy staff who are often the first primary care providers that these people come in contact with.

 

“Grief is a natural part of life, and for some people, it can be incredibly debilitating. Its intensity and longevity varies for each individual and everyone has unique coping mechanisms for managing the loss of a loved one,” she said.

 

“Pharmacy staff frequently come into contact with patients and or customers who are grieving, many of whom have lost someone close to them in recent weeks, days or even hours – often meaning they are the first point of contact.

 

“It’s upsetting to see a patient or customer break down in front of you, and for pharmacy staff who may have less experience in these scenarios, it can be quite confronting. In most cases, the individual just needs someone to listen and respond with compassion.

 

“As Australia’s most accessible healthcare provider, local pharmacists are well placed to assist these individuals – and through completion of this new training module, the profession will be better equipped to support them.”

 

Ms Felkai went on to discuss the module itself.

 

“Upon completion of the module, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants will be more perceptive when it comes to identifying someone who may be experiencing difficulty with their grief.

 

“The evidence-based training teaches appropriate communication strategies, enabling pharmacists to better converse with the individual – it also helps to identify suitable referral pathways for consideration if additional support is needed.

 

“As community pharmacists, our ability to connect with patients and customers is the crux of professional practice and this innovative training resource will ultimately raise the standard of pharmacist care across NSW.

 

“I strongly encourage all community pharmacists and pharmacy staff across NSW to undertake and complete this module,” Ms Felkai said.

 

To access the module, Supporting People with their Grief and Bereavement, please visit this link.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Pharmacists ready to immunise Australian children against COVID-19

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine for Australian children.

 

Yesterday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally approved Pfizer’s COMIRNATY vaccine for children above the age of five years, with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) soon to consider the advice.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, said immunity in the nation’s youth is the missing link in the vaccination strategy and pharmacists are ready to protect this important group.

 

“This is welcomed news for Australian parents, whose children will soon be able to book in for their COVID-19 vaccinations – I know many would like their children vaccinated before the start of the 2022 school year.

 

“In recent months we’ve seen unvaccinated children return to high-risk settings such as classrooms, and as expected, many schools have subsequently become exposure sites.

 

“PSA believes that it is imperative that all Australian children can access COVID-19 vaccinations in order to keep themselves, their families and the community safe.

 

“Opening up to this age bracket now means that there are 2.3 million children who will be in need of vaccination, and as the majority of Australians become eligible to receive their booster dose over the coming months, pharmacist immunisers will have their hands full. Given this, it is imperative that pharmacists are paid fairly for their vaccination services, and at least equally to other health providers.

 

“Vaccination is the best way to ensure these susceptible populations and their families are protected against the virus – plugging the hole in national immunity.

 

“Pharmacists are trained and experienced in vaccinating younger age groups against other vaccine-preventable diseases and are now ready to protect them against COVID-19.

 

“Given the expedient uptake from the 12-15 age bracket, now at 76.6% first dose and 67.5% double dose, we are confident that public demand will be high for 5-11s,” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

PSA will continue to work closely with the TGA and ATAGI over the coming months to ensure pharmacists are equipped with the most up-to-date advice regarding the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.

 

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

PSA thanks Minister Hunt for his outstanding service

Thursday 2^nd December 2021 

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) applauds the Hon Greg Hunt MP for his service as Minister for Health and Aged Care.

 

Announced today during the final parliamentary sitting for 2021, Minister Hunt confirmed that he will be stepping away from politics after next year’s Federal Election. 

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, thanked the Minister for his service to the nation and paid tribute to his leadership throughout recent health crises.

 

“Today’s announcement that Minister Hunt will step away from politics following next year’s election truly signifies the end of an era – and I thank him deeply for his efforts over the past four years.

 

“The way in which the Minister has risen to the challenges of the past few years has been second-to-none. 

 

“Through drought and bushfires, Minister Hunt led the way in protecting and championing the health and wellbeing of all Australians, placing both patient and practitioner outcomes at the forefront of his efforts. 

 

“As a result of his leadership and resolute approach to the pandemic, this nation has incurred a far lower mortality rate from COVID-19 – whilst our health system continues to withstand the impending threat posed by this disease.

 

“I commenced my presidency here at PSA shortly after Minister Hunt took office, and from the outset, our relationship with the Minister, his office, and the Department has been very productive – growing stronger through the pandemic response. 

 

“Throughout his tenure, Minister Hunt has been a strong advocate for the pharmacy profession, particularly in the areas of medicine safety by declaring Medication Safety and Quality Use of Medicines as Australia’s 10^th National Health Priority Area. He also invested in the pharmacy profession so that we may better serve Australia’s most vulnerable populations.

 

“In July last year, he welcomed PSA as signatories to the 7^th Community Pharmacy Agreement, a significant milestone ensuring the whole pharmacy profession’s voice was heard.

 

“Greg will be remembered as one of Australia’s most important Health Ministers. I wish him and his family all the very best for the future and PSA looks forward to working with him throughout the remainder of his term,” he said.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Pharmacists poised to receive massive respiratory care boost

Australians living with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions will soon get more coordinated, effective care from their local pharmacist thanks to a new specialist taskforce.

 

The taskforce, chaired by Woolcock Institute of Medical Research respiratory expert Professor Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich, will ensure community pharmacists are better supported to educate people about respiratory conditions, support correct medication use and identify those high risk patients who need additional medical care.

 

“Pharmacists are uniquely positioned at the coal face to identify the key issues with a person’s asthma or COPD and direct them towards the right kind of care,” Professor Bosnic-Anticevich explained.

 

“They have far better access to patients than any other healthcare provider, but too often this access is underutilised, and opportunities to check, monitor and advise both patients and prescribers are lost.

 

“Through the formation of this specialist taskforce, pharmacists will be better informed about new emerging treatments and changes in disease management guidelines, and better able to effectively help these patients,” she said.

 

The Respiratory Pharmacy Taskforce, established by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), as part of the Respiratory Care Community of Specialty Interest, is made up of pharmacy respiratory experts, leaders within the pharmacy profession, consumers, respiratory physicians, GPs, and representatives from the Lung Foundation Australia, National Asthma Council and Asthma Australia. It is headed by Professor Bosnic-Anticevich, a global expert in respiratory medicines use, and includes fellow Woolcock pharmacy specialist, Professor Bandana Saini. The taskforce will meet over the next two years to focus on asthma management initially and then extend to COPD.

 

Among the most important objectives, the taskforce will set up a specialist respiratory leadership team that will keep pharmacists abreast of the latest disease and treatment developments. It will also establish a highly organised national network of community pharmacists to engage with on respiratory issues, and seek feedback on the current status of asthma management in pharmacies through a national survey.

 

“We’ll also be articulating the key skills and knowledge that every practising pharmacist needs in order to meet the modern-day needs of patients with respiratory issues, and then working with accrediting bodies to ensure the profession can acquire these new competencies,” Professor Bosnic-Anticevich said.

 

“Importantly, the group will also build a community of respiratory pharmacist experts who can communicate key messages around asthma and COPD and support education initiatives across Australia.

 

“Through these various pathways, we’ll be ensuring that our local pharmacists are more knowledgeable, well-skilled and better supported to help those patients with asthma and COPD that pass through their doors,” she says. “For many people with asthma and COPD, a pharmacist is the health professional they see more than any other. Our plan is to utilise that treatment opportunity far better than we have before.”

 

The inaugural meeting of the Respiratory Taskforce was held today on World COPD Day. Chair of the PSA Contemporary Community Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest and PSA Board Director, Dr Fei Sim, noted: “This is a timely reminder to Government that community pharmacists are often the first health care professional a patient sees when they have respiratory symptoms or allergies. They are vital in supporting patients, ultimately preventing hospital admissions, of which COPD is the second leading cause of avoidable hospitalisations in Australia.”

 

Read the taskforce’s full list of key objectives here.

 

For interview requests, contact Woolcock media consultant, Lucy Williams, on 0403 753 028 or PSA media on 0424 777 463.

 

About the Woolcock

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is one of the world’s leading respiratory and sleep research organisations. It has over 200 medical researchers working to uncover the causes of disease, find better treatments and translate these into practice.

 

About PSA

PSA is the only Australian Government-recognised peak national professional pharmacy organisation representing all of Australia’s 31,000 pharmacists working in all sectors and across all locations. PSA is committed to improving Australia’s health through excellence in pharmacist care. PSA believes the expertise of pharmacists can be better utilised to address the health care needs of all Australians.

 

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2 million COVID-19 vaccinations administered by pharmacists!

Yet another milestone has been achieved by Australian pharmacists, who have now administered more than 2 million COVID-19 vaccines to patients.

 

As of yesterday, 90 percent of the population aged over 16 years has received their first dose of the vaccine, with more than 37 million doses administered nationally.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, thanked pharmacists for going above and beyond to protect their communities and discussed the transition into the National Booster Program.

 

“In the space of one month, pharmacists have doubled the number of vaccinations they have administered, with more than 2 million now recorded – and I thank you for the part you have played in delivering the national vaccination strategy.

 

“Pharmacists’ contribution to the roll out to-date has helped to propel Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT out of lockdown, right in time for the summer holiday period – allowing people to visit their loved ones and getting Australians back into work.

 

“Select pharmacies now have all three COVID-19 vaccines; Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca available – so regardless of what stage you’re at in your vaccination journey, speak with your local pharmacist about which vaccine is best for you.

 

“As Australia begins to open up and as vaccination hubs revert to pre-pandemic arrangements, we will see pharmacies will become critical access points for 6-month boosters, along with other vaccinations like the seasonal influenza vaccination. In preparation for this, it is essential that we have an appropriate funding model in place that adequately remunerates pharmacists to continue to deliver this essential service,” he said.

 

PSA is dedicated to supporting pharmacists in delivering all COVID-19 vaccines both safely and effectively to the public.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

PSA welcomes the Queensland Government’s decision to expand vaccine mandate

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Queensland Government’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all private healthcare staff.

 

Under the recently announced Workers in a Healthcare Setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements) Direction, all private health, aged care and disability service workers in Queensland will be required to be fully vaccinated by 15 December.

 

PSA Queensland Branch President, Shane MacDonald, praised Minister D’Ath’s leadership in ensuring that frontline staff and Queenslanders are protected in time for the State’s reopening.

 

“We are delighted that the public health orders have now been extended to those working in pharmacies, private hospitals, day surgeries, GP clinics, optometrists and various other settings. PSA commends the Health Minister for nipping this in the bud prior to our reopening on 17 December.

 

“Mandatory vaccination is the best way to protect health care workers, patients and to reduce the risk of further transmission through high-risk primary care settings.

 

“Over the course of the pandemic, Queensland has been sheltered from the brunt of this virus – avoiding widespread community transmission, high infection rates and the accompanying lockdowns. As domestic and international borders reopen and socialisation increases, this is all about to change – and we must be prepared to live alongside this deadly disease.

 

“The last thing we want is a situation where vulnerable members of the community remain anxious about contracting this disease through these primary care settings. It is imperative those seeking care feel confident that their provider at the other end has heeded the health advice.

 

“The onus is on us as health professionals to provide the safest possible environment for society’s most vulnerable, ensuring that they are not deterred from accessing our facilities as they seek treatment in order improve their overall quality of life.

 

“Whilst this is good news for the state, we also recognise those extenuating circumstances where health workers have genuine medical contraindications to vaccination – for this exceptionally small cohort, PSA supports the need for additional controls to reduce risk to the public and healthcare workers,” Mr MacDonald said.

 

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463